THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13763, 29 November 1906, Page 7

THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

RECENT INTERFERENCES.

Press Ajsocialion-iJj Telegraph-Copyrisht.

OTTAWA, November 28. During the debate on tho Address-in-Reply in the Senate at Ottawa. Mr Longheed, Leader of the Opposition, urged Parliament, in view of flic coming Colonial Conference, to consider the modus vivcmli whereby a. British Minister had overridden a Newfoundland statute and bad given the United States territorial privileges. Such an action bad flir-reachiug effects, and if similar action were taken in connection with a question involving Canada tho result would be the. disintegration of the Empire. Only by recognising the fullest, local autonomy and retraining from untitle interference in colonial affairs would the Empire bo kept together. That the Colonial Office exhibited a. liability to unduly interfere was snown by its action iiv connection with the New Hebrides, where New Zealand and Australia, had protested, and also in Natal, where the Imperial Government, had to recede from tho position it. look up in connection with the, native rebellion.

.Mr Scott (Secretary of Stale) replied thill the Imperial Government's one mistake ill connection with Newfoundland was that the modus Vivendi allowed the use of pui'se and seine nets, which were forbidden by Canada's and Newfoundland's stuliites. Tlie Americans, recognising the mistake, had agreed, doubtless under pressure, to relinquish the use of seine nets.